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It is keeper of the nation’s most cherished stately homes, heritage sites and rural beauty spots, welcoming almost 20 million visitors a year. However, the National Trust has been warned that its ageing volunteers are struggling to keep up with new demands for longer opening hours, increased visitor numbers and interactive guided tours.

Miranda Spatchurst, a volunteer at a National Trust property in Kent, has questioned whether the organisation can balance the ever-growing demands of visitors with the goodwill of the army of pensioners who give up their time to keep the attractions open. In a letter to The Time